Automatic feeder for laundry machinery



Sept. 18, 1928.

- T. L. LOWE AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINERY 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 5, 1925 R m. m N. N% RN 6 M .w m Sm M ,A 4 J A? E mmw 5 Fa mm mm. MK m 3 v h .SM T wm 6 Q N m QM 1 um um uh \w \m mm g T. L. LOWE AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINERY v Sept. is, 1928.

Filed Feb. 5. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NB mK mm QR INVENTOR T/wmasL. Lowe icw iulw y w Sept. 18, 1928. v 115847451 T. L. LOWE AUTOIATIG FEEDER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINERY T. L. LOWE AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINERY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1925 INVENTOR. Thomas Z. Lowe T. L. LOWE AUTOIATIC FEEDER FOR LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Feb. 5, 192 s 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. .T/wmasl.low e BY 6% MM Y ATTORNEYS.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical floor plan view showing a laundry ironing machine and two of the automatic feeders, according to the invention, positioned upon a track upon which they are moved to and from the ironer;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionalelevation of a hand operable clutch device for driving the feeding machine inrelation to the ironer;

- Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a foot operable clutch device for operating the feeder during loading; this operation of the machine being in reverse direction from the operation in relation to the ironer and taking place intermittently; V

Fig. 7 isa side elevation of a modified form of the invention, the same being adapted to carry two conveyor aprons instead of one as employed in the first ferm, the pieces of laundry being fed between the two aprons;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the forward end of the feed table, with a portion of the apron removed and which is adapted as the pieces are fed into relation with the ironer to insure their removal from the apron and the feeding device; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view thereof along the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figchine of the conventional type is illustrated diagrammatically and comprises a large cylindrical drum 10 rotatably mounted upon end standards 11 and adapted during operation to be rotated by suitable drive means. An endless apron 12 extends about the drum, first between the outer drum surface and a series of padded rolls 13, 14. and 15 mounted at the lower side of the ironer frame, the feed roll 13 being disposed adjacent the feeding opening to the drum and adapted to guide the apron onto the drum from an adjustably mounted roller 16, the portion of the apron between the rollers 13 and 16 constituting a receiving surface upon which the pieces to be ironed are laid in the usual operation of the ironer. The apron extends about the drum to a point in spaced relation to the roller 13 where it is carried off about. a

side and an adjustably ITlOllIlfiOd roller 22 engaging the underside, and from which latter roller it passes beneath the rollers 15 and14and over the roller 16 into engagement with the drum; Doifer knives 23. engage the surface of the drum at a point slightly spaced from the pointat which the apron leaves it and areada'pted to prevent the articles from.

" continuing in engagement with thedrum, an

endless-feed apron or conveyer 24 extending feedin g about the roller 17, and fed by suitable rollers 25 and 26, carrying the pieces about the roller 17, from which they are fed uponthe 'apron rearwardly over the rollers 18 and 19 and F finally removed'onto suitabletables or conveyers as the apron passes over the roller 20. W'ith certain classes of work, as sheets that must be folded, the roller 22 is adapted to be adjusted to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 to facilitate "this operation.

According to the invention, a pair of tracks 27 and 28 are provided upon the floor in front of the ironer and extend on each side thereof as shown in Fig. 4, the feeding machines,

preferably two in number, being mounted on these tracks, and being adapted to be moved from their loading positions or stations at one or the other sides of the ironer to their position or. station in front of the same. I c c i v The feeding machine comprises a main frame consisting of horizontal rectangular upper and lower frames 30 and 31 formed of structural channel iron and connected at their corners by-vertical supports 32 formed of structural angle iron, the frame being movablysupported on the tracks by means of rollers 33 suitably journaled in the lower frame portion 31. v

Angular-1y disposed reinforcing struts or truss bars 34' are connected between the ends of the lower channel irons of the frame at each end and the central portions of the upper channel irons (Fig. 1), and also between the ends of the upper channel irons at the front and rear and the central portions of the lower channel irons (Fig. 2).

At each end of the frame there is provided a central vertically disposed channel bar 35 bolted at its ends to the frame, and at the upper side and centrally at eachend there are. also mounted channel guide bars 36 in substantially aligned continuation of the bars 35, these bars 36 being bolted at their lower ends to the frame and being supported by a truss bar 37 having a horizontal lower end portion secured to the bars 35 and bolted to the frame and anangular strut, portion bent upwardly from the lower end portion to the upper end of the bars 36 where it is bolted. The bars 36 are further supported by truss bars 38 extending from their upper ends to therear end sides of the frame.

portions to the upper Within the guide bars 35 and 36 there are curedu on the, lower horizontal "end portions of the rame at each side of the central vertical guide bars 35, while the'upper-roll, 12 is surface speed but at verying angular speed.

For this purpose a large gear 5lis provided upon one endof the roll 43 and adapted to be -meshed by drive means, hereinafter more fully described, and upon the other end of this roll there isprovided a sprocket gear 52 connecting a sprocket chain 53 with a sprocket gear 54 on the end of the roll 44:. A sprocket gear 55 is also provided upon the roll 44 which is connected by a sprocket chain 56 with a sprocket gear 57 provided upon the end of the upper roll 4-8, which in turn is provided with a sprocket gear 58 connected by a sprocket chain 59 to a sprocket gear 60 provided upon the end of the roll 47. This train of gearing rotates the four feed rolls at the sameangular speed and in the same direction with respect to each other, the direction of rotation of the feed rolls being reversed during the loading operation with relation to the direction of rotation during the feeding operation. I I

Theapron 61, which is formed of thin musadapted to be moved from one onto the other, depending on the direction in which the machine is being driven, being wound onthe upper roll during the loading operation of the machine'and onto the lower roll during the feeding operation to the ironer. The diameters of the rolls with the apron thereon would thus vary with respect to each other and the center axes of rotation are shifted along a vertical l ne as the rolls increase or dnnlnlsh in diameter. This is clearly indicated in Fig. 1 the dotted lines indicating the lowermost positions of the rolls when they are in substantially directcontact with the feed rolls.

In passing between the rolls the apron is extended over a loading and feeding table or support 'consisti n'g of a frarne 62 rotatablysupported at its rearward ends upon the upper ends of standards 63 and 64 bolted to the ends of the upper side of the main frame forwardly of the rolls, the apron passing from the lower roll over a guide roller 65 journaled in the standards 63 and 64 at their lower portions, over relatively small diameter rollers 66 provided upon a shaft 67 at the forward end'of the frame 62, rearwardly over a roller 68 journaled between the standards 63 and 64at the rearward ends of the frame 62 and co-axial with the axis of rotation of said frame, and thence to the upper roll 42, passing between said roll and the feed rollers 48 and 4.7 as it is wound about 'saidroll 42. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the spaced, rollers 66 are loosely rotatable uponth'e tubular shaft 67, which is fixed with relation to the frame 62 and provided forwardly with a series of line 7 0 is connected at one end of said shaft and during the feeding operation tothe I ironer compressed air is admitted to the shaft andis jetted throughthe perforations to insure removal of the pieces from the apron as the pass into the ironer,.the thin muslin of which the apron is formed .being' sufficiently pervious to permit the airto be blown therethrough. The loading table is counter-balanced so that it may be swung to any desired position, as indicated for instance in dotted position; so that, during'the loading operation it may be maintained in arelatively horizontal. position, and in the feeding operation it may be adjusted to its proper position in lin or other suitable material, is connected at. its ends to the respective rolls 41 and 42 and 1s relation to the feeding opening of the ironer. During loading the machine 18 operated in a directionto wind the apron from the lower roll 41 to the upper roll 42, the same moving rearwardly along the upper surface of the table 62, while during the feeding operation in relation to the ironer, the machine is retated in reverse direction. For this purpose a drive shaft 75 for operating the several feeding machines, in their respective loading and feeding positions, is supported beneath the floor in suitable bearing hangers 76 and is continuously driven by means of a belt drive 77, preferably connected (Fig. 1) to the drive pulley of the ironer, so'that during t-hefeeding operation to the ironer, the feeder and ironer ,will be operated in synchronism. At the intermediate or feeding station in front of the ironer; a gear78 (Figafi) is provided upon the shaft 75 and extends at its periphery through an opening in the floor whereit is adapted to'mesh with the drive gear 51. The gear 7 Sis loosely mounted on the shaft, and'is adapted'to be connected thereto by means of an-annularly channeled clutch 79 keyed to the shaft, and adapted to be shifted into engaged or disengaged relation with'the gearby means of a forked lever 80 provided on a shaft 81 pivotally mounted in bearings 82, and having a handle 83 ex tended upwardl through an opening in the floor. The feedlng machine is operated cony 7o perforations 69. A compressed air supply 'tinuously during its feeding relation with the ironer and the lever handle 83 is therefore adapted to remain in either of-its movedpositions-that is it will remain in clutched relation, when so moved, until it is again moved to unclutchedrelatlon.

' At each of the loading stations, where they machine is adapted to rotate in opposite direction to its direction of rotation while feeding to the ironer, there is loosely mounted a gear 84 (Fig. 6') which extends through an opening in the floor where it meshes withthe drive gear 51, and is provided with a reversed""'drive mechanism adapted to. be clutched to the shaft. This mechanism is mounted in a stationary housing 85 and comprises a beveled gear 86 secured to the. shaft 84 and meshes with a pair of beveledpinions 87 and 88 journaled' inthe housing, and which in turn mesh with a beveled gear 89 loosely mounted on the shaft within the housing and provided with a notched clutch engaging hub portion 90. An annularly journaled collar 91 is slidably keyed upon the shaft and is adapted to be shifted into engaged and disengaged relation with hub y means of a forked lever arm 92 mounted upon a rocker shaft 93 journaled at its endsin bearing brackets 94 secured at the under'-' side of the floor, and having also secured thereto a lever arm 95 provided with a foot pedal 96 extended upwardly through an opening 97 in the floor and normally pressed upwardly to its clutch disengaging position is, filled the foot pedal 96 is depressed throw- 1 5 ing in the clutch 91 and-causing the rolls to by means of a spring 98. The machine is therefore normally stationary while theoperator places the pieces oflaundry upon the apron inas close relation as possible so that .substantially the entire area of the apron may be filled to the best advantage and no appreciable ironing space is subsequently wasted in the ironer.

The machineis of such length that a number of operators may be positioned infront of the same during the loading and each kept busy placing the pieces upon the stationary apron. As soon'as one portion of the apron be turnedin clockwise direction. so that the apron with the pieces carried thereon is moved into rolled'relation about theupper roll 42. The machine is stopped when an unfilled portion of the apron is moved over -.the frame .62 and thisis then filled and .the

feeding operation repeated. The machine may thus be'loadeduntil the apron isentirely wound from the roll 41-uponthe roll 42. l x

During the loading operation another one of the machines, which has been previously loaded, is stationed in feeding. relation tothe ironer with its gear 51 in mesh with the continuous drive gear 7 5, the rolls being rotated in counter-clockwise direction so that. the

"four corners the covering apron 107 becomes superimapron is fed forwardly over the upper side 65 of the frame 62 carrying the pieces into the ironer, this operation continuing until the entire loaded contents of the machine are removed. The feeding and loading operations may therefore be carried on continuously and efliciency,-the machine permitting the feed ing to the ironer to be carried on continuously and atany desired speed, while the periodical operator controlled operation of the machine during the loading enables the opera'tors to place the pieces in close relationupon the apron and to the best advantage.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated a. modified form of the inventionin which a pair of aprons are employed and between the thicknesses of which the pieces are loaded, one

of the aprons being in the nature of a covermg layer. The main frame is provlded at lts standards or posts 100 preferably formed in continuation of the upright corner pieces 32,

and the upper channel guides 36 are provided with-extension portions 101. ,The rearward standards support a pair of vertically spaced frolls. 102 and 103 journalled thereon, the portions 101 support a roll 104 journaled thereon, and the forward standards are provided with brackets 105 in which are j ournaledthe ends of a roller 106.

The covering apron 107 is connected at its ends to the rolls 41 and 42 in a similar mannerto the apron 61', and extends from the roll 41 rearwardly over the rolls 102 and 103 and forwardly and downwardly over the rolls 104 and 106 to the roll 42, the roll 106 being so positioned with relation to. the roll 68 that theapron 107 converges into contact with the apron 61 as they move into relation with the i forward roll 48.

During the loading operation the pieces of laundry are assembled, being placed upon the apron 61 as it is in positionon the table 62, and as the apronis fed ontojthe, roll 42 posed upon the pieces. During the feeding operation to the ironers the covering apron prevents any possibility of the pieces sticking to the roll, and in order to insure positive disengagement of the pieces from the underside of the apron 107 a perforated compressed air jet pipe :108 is mount-ed" above said, apron between its point of convergence withthe apron 61 and the roll 68 and is adapted-to jet compressed air through the thin muslin dry pieces therefrom.

It. will be seen that the articles areplaced in groups on the feeder. apron while the apron is stationary and that when eachigroup has 5 'beencompleted the apron is ,moved snificiently to provide for; a succeeding grou the groups being positioned substantial y structure .of. the apron to separate the launeontinuously to make up a series of a predetermined number of such groups which is wound up, by the time the last series is com-' pleted, into a roll, the articles being in sub- ..stafitially thesame relationship in which they were placed on the apron and properly arranged to be fed directly to the ironer with outsubsequent handling. WVhen the articles-- to be ironed are handled in the manner hith-. 1o

erto usual, being shaken out and then f arranged in piles from .which they are taken one at a time and fed to the ironer, certain portions-of the articles, being accessible ,to the air are liable to dry .and show as rough dry spots in the articles after being ironed. )According to the present invention, however, "thesto'rage of the articles'wound up between a, he'c'onvolutions of theapron acts to condi- 'tion thea rticles or cause the moisture therein to be "substantially uniformly distributed, thus avoiding the resenc'e of dry spots when the -;articles are ed to the ironer and so avoiding'such faulty ironing. Where a plurality of-machines are employed it 'is'also apparent that one series of articles is being 1. IIr-a machine of the character described,

an'apron adapted to have pieces of laundry placed thereon, a roll for receiving said apron with said'pieces, whereby the diameter of the rolled apron increases as it is rolled on said roll, constant speed drive means for imparting/va' ableangular and-constant surface rotation aid roll and rolled apron in rolling and Ding directions, said apron ada ted to" unrolled in reverse direction to eed said piecesltherefromto an ironeror the like at uniform speed. a Y

2. In a machine of the character described,

an apron,a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected-to the ends of said apron, means.

for rotating said rolls wherebv the apron is adapted to be wound from one upon the other. a loading and feeding support over which said apron passesin moving from one roll to the other and constant speed drive means-for imparting variable angular and constant surface rotation to said respective rolls and rolled apron. I I

3. In a machine of the character described, an apron adapted to have pieces of laundry placed thereon, a. pair of spacedrolls re-' spectively connected to the ends of said apron,

constant speed drive means for rotating said rolls and rolled apron at variable angular and constant surface speeds whereby the apron is. adaptedto be woundfrom one roll upon the other to store said pieces with the .rolled apron upon one of said rolls, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or the like at uniform speed. a

4. In a machine'of the character described,

an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, a flat support over which said apron passes in mov ing from one roll to the other, and constant speed drive means for rotating said rolls and rolledapron at variable angular and constant surface speeds in forward and reverse directions and whereby pieces of laundry are adapted to be loaded at uniform speed -on said apron as it is in position on 'said support and'rolled with saidapron upon one of said rolls upon rotation of said rolls in one direction, and upon rotation in the other direction to be fed by said apron to an ironer or the like at uniform speed.

. 5. In a machine of the character described,

an apron adapted tohave movement in forward and reverse directions, means connected to the respective ends of said apron and adapted respectively to receive said apron as it is moved in forward and reverse directions, said apron adapted as it is moved in one di rection to have pieces of laundry placed thereon and loaded with respect to one of said means, and adapted as it is moved in the other direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or thelikeand constant speed drive meansfor imparting constant speed movement to said apron as it moves with respect toits loading and feedin points.

6. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other,

:'a loading and feeding support pivotally mounted at its inner end and whereby the outer end is adapted to be swung to variable positions, said apron being adapted to pass over said support in moving from one roll to the other.

7 In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron vis adapted to be moved from one upon the other, a loading and feeding support pivotallymounted at its inner end and whereby the outer end is adapted to be swung to variable positions, said'apronbeing adapted to pass over said support in moving from one roll-to the other, and counter-balance means con-' f'nected' to said support and adapted tg maintain' it in any given position.

8.- In a'm aehine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, constant speed drive-means for rotating said rolls and rolled apron at variable angular and constant surface speeds whereby the apron-is adapted to be moved from one upon the other at uniform speed, a loading and feeding support having a projecting relatively narrow end to the other.

9. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, constant speed drive means for rotating said rolls and, rolled apron at var able angular and constant,

surface speeds whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other at uniform speed, a loading and feedingsupport having a projecting rollered end portion, said apron being adapted to pass about said roll ered end portion and in flatwise relation over said support in moving from one roll to the other.

10. In a machine of the character de-' scribed, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls-re spectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other a loading and feeding support having a projecting end portion,said apron being adapted to pass about said end portion and in flatwise relation over said support in moving from one roll to the other, andmeans adapted to positively disengage pieces of laundry from said apron as it moves in feedingdirection about said end portion.

11. In a machine of the character ,described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls-respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other, a loading and feeding support having a projecting end portion, said apron being ada ted to pass about said end portion and in fl dtwise'relation over said support in movmeans adaptedito positively disengage pieces of laundr from said apron as it moves in feedin dlrection about said end portion.

12. n a' machine of the character described, an apron adapted to have pieces of laundry placed thereon, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron and constant speed drivemeans for simultaneously rotating said rolls at equal surface speed whereby the-apron is adapted to bemoved from one upon the other at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer'or the like at uniform speed.

13. In a machine of the character described, an apron adapted to have pieces of to drive means for simultaneously rotating said rolls at equal surface speedwhe'reby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed sald pieces to an ironer or thejlike at uniform speed. I I 14. In a machine; of the character der' scribed an apron adapted" to have pieces of laundry placed" thereon, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of :said

apron, guides for said-rolls whereby they are adapted to have independent bodily movement transversely of their axes, and constant speed drive means for simultaneously rotating said rolls at equal surface speed whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one 5 upon the other at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be rotated-in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an iro'ne'r or the like at uniform speed.

15 In a machine of the character de-" scribed, an apron adapted to have pieces of laundry placed thereon, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, vertical guides for said rolls wherebyw they are adapted-to have independentvefti cd bodily movement transversely of their axes, and constant speed drive means for simultaneously rotating said rolls at equal surface speed whereby the apron is adapted'to' be moved from one upon the other at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reversefldirection to feed ironer or the like at'uniform speed.

16. In a machine of the character de-" said pieces toan scribed, an apron adapted to have pieces of 1 5 laundryplacedtheicon, a pair of spaced 7 rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron and having reduced shaft ends channel guides for said rolls engaged by said shaft ends whereby said rolls are adapted to I110,

have independent bodily movement trans versely of their axes, and constant speed drive means for simultaneously rotating-said rolls at equal surface speed whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other at uniform speed, said feed rollsadapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or the like at' uniform speed.

17. In a machine of the character described, an apron, adapted to have pieces of laundry placed there'on,a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron. constant speed feed rolls frictionally engaging the cylindrical surface of said spacedrolls, and adapted to be simultaneous-- ly driven at e ual angular speed and whereby said spaced ro ls are simultaneously driven at equal surface speed and the apron is adapted be moved from one roll upon the other at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be r0.- tated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or the like at uniform speed.

18. In a machine of the .character described, an apron adapted to have pieces of laundry placed thereon, a pairof spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, vertical guides for said rolls whereby they are adapted to have independent bodily movement, constant speed feed rolls frictionally engaging the cylindrical surfaces of said s aced rolls and adapted to be simultaneously riven at equal angular speed and whereby said spaced rolls are simultaneously driven at equal surface speed and the apron is adapted to-be moved from one roll upon the other at uniform speed, said feed'rolls adaptedto;

be rotated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or the like at uniform speed. I 19. In a machine of the character de scribed, an apron adapted to have pieces of laundry placed thereon, upper and lower spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, vertically aligned guides for said rolls whereby they are adapted to have independent bodily movement transversely of their axes, and constant speed drive means for simultaneously rotating said rolls at equal surface speed whereby the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon theother at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed said piecesto an ironer or the like at uniform speed.

'20. In a machine of the character ,described, an apron adapted to have pieces of. laundry placed thereon, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, a pair of constant speed feed rolls respectively supporting said spaced rolls upon and between them and adapted to be simultaneously driven at equal angular speed whereby said spaced rolls are simultaneously driven at equal surface speed and the apron is adapted to be moved from one upon the other at uniform speed, said feed rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction tofeed said .pieces to an iro-ner'or the like at uniform speed.

' 21. In a machine of the character described, an apron adapted tohavepieces of laundry placed thereon, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, vertical guides for saidrolls whereby theyare adapted to have independent bodily movement, pairs of constant speed feed rollsrespectively supporting said spaced. rolls upon and between them and adapted to be simultaneously driven at equal angular speed 1 whereby said spaced rolls are simultaneously drivenat equal surface speed andthe apron is adapted to bemoved from one upon the other at uniform speed, said rolls adapted to be operated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or the like.

pieces to an ironer or the like at uniform s eedr 22. Ina machine of the character described, a pair of apronspo-ne constituting-a receiving layer for pieces of laundry andthe other constituting a covering laycrtherefor, and means for rolling said aprons with said pieccs'between them, said ap-rons'adapted to be unroll'ed in reverse direction to feed said pieces therefrom to an ironer or the like and means for receiving said aprons in superimposed relation as they are unrolled from said first means. i L

23. In a machine of the character described, a pair of aprons, one constituting a. receiving layer for pieces of laundry and the other constituting a covering layertherefor a pair of spaced rolls respectively connecte to the ends of each of said aprons, saidap-rons adapted to extend in separated relation with respect toeach .other between said rolls, means for rotating said rolls whereby the aprons are wound from one upon the other to store pieces placed upon said receiving apron between the same and said covering apron upon one of said rolls, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed said pieces to an ironer or the like.

receiving layer for pieces of laundry and the other constituting a covering layer, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of each of said aprons, said aprons adapted to extend in separated relation with respect to .each other between said rolls, means for rotating said rolls whereby theaprons are adapted to be moved fromone upon the other to store pieces placed upon saidreceiving apron between the same and said covering apron upon one of said rolls, and a loading and feeding support over which said receiving apron passes 1n moving from one roll to the other, said rolls adapted to be rotated in reverse direction to feed said 25. In a machine of the character described,-a pair of aprons, one constituting a, receiving layer for pieces of laundry and the other constituting a covering layer therefor, means for rolling said aprons with said pieces between them, said aprons adapted to be unrolled in reverse direction to feed said pieces therefrom to an ironer or the like, and means for positively separating the pieces from said coveringlayer during movement in feeding direction. v I

26. In a machine of the character described, anapron adapted to have movement in forward and reverse directions, means con-- nected to the respective ends of said apron and adapted to respectively receive said apron as it is moved in forward and reverse directions, said apron adapted as it is moved placed thereo'n and loaded with said apron in respect to one of said means and adapted Iasit is moved in the other direction tofced said pieces to an ironer orthe like, drive means for continuously moving said apron during its operation in feeding direction, and

drive means for moving said apron inloads. ing direction intermittently during operatorcontrolled periods. a

27. In a machine of :the character described, an apron adapted to have movement. in forwardand reverse directions, means con nected to the respective ends of said apron and adapted to respectively receive said apron as it is moved in forward andfreverse "directions, said apron adapted as it is moved 28'. In a machine of; the character de i scribed,'an apron adapted to have movement in forward and reverse directions, means connected to-the respective ends of said apron and adapted to-respectively receive said apron as it is moved in forward and reverse 'direc tions, said apron adapted as it is moved inone direction to have pieces of laundry placed thereon and loaded'with said apron in respect'to one of said means, and adapted as it is moved in the'other direction to feed said pieces to an ironeror the like, forward and'reconnecting said reverse driving means inter- 7 verse drive means for respectively driving said apron during its feeding and loading operations, and foot-controlled means for.

mittently during operator-controlled periods.

29. In a machine of the character described ada ted to be moved between loading and fee ing stations, an apron adapted to tions, means ada ted to be connected to the respective ends of said apron and adapted to respectively move said apron as it. is moved in forward and reverse direction, said apron adapted as it is moved in one direction to have ieces of laundry placed thereon and loaded 'with said apron in respect to one ofsaid means, and adapted as it is moved in the other direction to feed pieces of laundry to an ironer or the like, drive means located at said feeding station for moving said apron during its operation in feeding direction,

and otherdrive means located at said loadin station for moving said apron in loading direction intermittently during operator-controlled periods.

30. In'combination with an ironer, an automatic feeding machine adapted to have movestoring and matically feed said pieces to the ironer, and a drive means operative at said respective sta tionsfor driving said means in forward and reverse directions.

31. In combination with an ironer, a track in front of. said-ironer and extending at one side thereof, an automatic feeding machine movably, mounted on said track adapted to have movement between a loading station removed from said ironer and a feeding Sta tion in contiguous relation thereto, and including forwardly and reversely' movable means adapted to have pieces .of laundry loaded thereon at said loading station in flat and separated relation, and adapted at said feeding station to automatically feed said pieces to the ironer, and drive means op-- erative at said respective stations for driving said means in forward and reverse directions.

32. In combination with an ironer, an an.- tomatic feeding machine adapted to have movement between a-loading station at one side of said ironer and a' feeding station forwardly thereof, and includingan apron, for-- ward and reverse drive means for said apron, and a loading and feeding support at the side of said machine toward'said ironer and over which said apronpasses, and whereby the pieces of laundry are adapted to be placed upon said apron at said loading station as it moves over said support in one direction, and. are adapted to be fed by said apron to the ironer as it moves over said support at the. feeding station in the other direction.

bling articles to be ironed in close relationshlp, the arts of each article being arranged suitably or ironing, storing and conditionng the articles so assembled, and then feedhave movement in forward and reverse direclationship therebetween.

, 35. The method which comprises assem bling article's in close relationship, each article having its parts arranged to be ironed,v

conditioning the articles, and then feedingthe articlesto an ironing machine in the'same close relationship while the parts of each are maintained in arranged positions. i

33.' The method which comprises assem- 36. The method which comprisesassembling articles in rality of series, each article'having its parts arranged for ironing, storing the articles so 5 arranged for conditioning, and then feeding the articles so assembled to an ironing machine, the articles of-one series following substantially continuously the articles of a preclose relationship in a pluceding series, and While the partsof each article are maintained in the same arrangement as when assembled.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut this 4th day of February A. D. 1925 THOMAS L. LOWE. 

